REMSTAR CPAP REPAIR

Hi There!

I've been using my Remstar for two years and have just started getting a whining noice (which from your posts means the fan might be going). The internal humidifier is also now using more water per night than it did previously. If I send my machine off for repair (I'm not mechanical), is there anywhere I can rent one just for the duration of the repair and shipping?

Thanks,

Ssssleeping Again wrote:Hi There!

I've been using my Remstar for two years and have just started getting a whining noice (which from your posts means the fan might be going). The internal humidifier is also now using more water per night than it did previously. If I send my machine off for repair (I'm not mechanical), is there anywhere I can rent one just for the duration of the repair and shipping?

Thanks,

First of all.......Where did you get it?
The machines have a two-year warranty. I've read where the factory has been known to stretch that timeline, depending on the circumstances.
They're supposed to be sent in to the factory by the DME you purchased it from......or at least another DME in your area. You can't send it directly to the factory.
Many DMEs will give you a loaner to use while yours is being fixed.
You're not supposed to be taking them apart......it'll void the warranty.

As far as the humidifier using more water.......that could be caused by leaking air out your mouth during the night (if you're using a nasal mask and your mouth is falling open during the night) or if you've increased the humidifier setting.

If all else fails, you could contact this place and see if they'll do it for a reasonable price. They do factory authorized service work.

http://www.acbio.com/

Many of us have spare machines to use in the event of those types of situations.


Den

Thanks for your help, Den.

I purchased the machine outright from Apria Healthcare with my then insurance paying 100%. I called them and they said the machine is out of warranty and they don't do repairs. They would do a replacement machine, but only as a rental through my new insurance which requires I pay 20% of the rental each month for however long I use the machine. Not happening!!!

My thought was to send my machine the the folks you recommended once I found a way to have a temp machine.

As for the increased water usage...this is happening even with the humidifier level at "0" and I pretty much sleep with clenched jaws and wake up with a desert dry mouth most every morning, so I guess I'll go home and look for leakage in the machine.

Ssssleeping Again wrote:Thanks for your help, Den.

I purchased the machine outright from Apria Healthcare with my then insurance paying 100%. I called them and they said the machine is out of warranty and they don't do repairs. They would do a replacement machine, but only as a rental through my new insurance which requires I pay 20% of the rental each month for however long I use the machine. Not happening!!!

My thought was to send my machine the the folks you recommended once I found a way to have a temp machine.

As for the increased water usage...this is happening even with the humidifier level at "0" and I pretty much sleep with clenched jaws and wake up with a desert dry mouth most every morning, so I guess I'll go home and look for leakage in the machine.

I would think they would at least have the courtesy to find out how much the factory would charge to fix it.......but, then you're dealing with "Apria".......and their reputation is in the toilet.

Some of the machines a few years ago had humidifiers that leaked. They were supposed to be replaced with ones of a newer design. Actually, Respironics had about four different designs (I assume it's the M Series machine you have).

You didn't mention which specific model of CPAP you have, but there are other venues to obtain machines. If you have a physical copy/original of your prescription (and you should have it), you can purchase machines from online sellers like CPAP.COM or CPAPAuction.com. Another place to look is on CraigsList.

There also have been times when one of the forum members has one for sale, too, and will post a message on the forum.

Good luck.

Den

Hi Everyone,

Thought I'd jump in here. I am surprised that Apria wouldn't take on the repair. I know some centers will make the arrangements for repair and bill back the insurance company. We do perform patient owned equipment repairs for a very few of their centers and actually are working on some contracts with other suppliers to expand that part of our business,

Ok, having said that, Ssssleeping Again you can get a hold of us and we can see if it makes sense to repair.

Try typing in cpap repair and service. will find a co from MO. Good rep, warranty their work for 1yr. I have a REMstar plus with over 26,000 hrs. started making a little noise error code 4 a couple times. Used 10+ yrs. Picked up another with 2000 hrs. for $50.00 Will send my old one in for rebuild if possible. Just e-mailed problem to repair co. to see if it would be cost effective. If anything all you should need is a copy of your prescription. Good luck, Mike

Hi Mike,

We have received your web site response this afternoon. I am forwarding it to our Biomed department. Please bear with us a little as we are shuttling our Biomed manager between regional repair centers right now for training. Just wanted to let you know we'll be resounding soon on this.

Hey, Accurate. What do you know, if anything, about these new PR S1's and the problem this series is having w/stopping in the night during therapy all on their own and then sometimes even starting up again all on their own? Auto Start/Auto Stop turned off. Some are also just stopping all on their own and then you can't get them started again. There is a thread here in the forum w/in the last two months about this problem. Do/does your "shop(s)" know the "fix" for this? We've been speculating that it is a firmware problem but there's been some 5-6 different firmware we've seen on our PR S1s. The latest we know of is 2.0 or 2.1 (I've forgotten). I have had TWO of the PR S1 BPAP Autos w/the problem, one was firmware v.1.22 and the other a v.1.24.

You can get the fan for it from cpapusa. and its not that hard to get it out. I just replaced mine it started beeping like it had a leek and just would not get the pressure anymore. I had one that had a bad mother board so I used its fan. So I have a used c pap with a bad mother board and a wore out fan I will sell it cheep. Ps I it needs a power supply It was used for some other project....